Slide fasteners



March 31, 1959 F. ULRICH SLIDE FASTENERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. s, 1952 F'llf...

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FREDERICK ULR 1 FIE.4

ATTQR N EYS F. ULRICH SLIDE FASTENERS March 31, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fixed Dec. 1952 IIIIII/II/ INVENTOR. FREDERICK ULRICH BY 2 AT roaugvs F. ULRICH SLIDE, FASTENERS March 31 19.59

:s Sheet t 3 Filed Dec. 3. 1952 FREDERICK ICH United States PatentO 2,879,573 SLIDE FASTENERS Frederick Ulrich, Jersey City, N.J., assignor to Conmar Products Corporation, Newark, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 3, 1952, Serial No. 323,754

17 Claims. (Cl. 24 205.15)

The invention relates to improvements in slide fasteners of the type comprising a pair of stringers, each formed of tape having spaced, interlockable fastener elements secured 'thereto, the fastener elements being engaged or disengaged by a slider acting to open and close the fastener.

There are times, due either to the improper application of a slide fastener to a garment, or because of the presence of an undergarment in the path of a slider, that the material of the garment or undergarment becomes caught or snagged between the fastener elements, or between the fastener elements and the slider. It then becomes desirable to be able to simply and quickly release the snagged material without ripping or otherwise damaging the fabric. One answer to this problem is provided by the invention disclosed in the application of Albert Bashover, Serial Number 337,786, filed February 19, 1953, having the same assignee as the present invention.

As disclosed in said co-pending case, the slider wings arepermanently and fixedly connected to each other, so that one of the most critical dimensions of the slider, namely, the height of the internal Y-shaped channel, is maintained substantially fixed and constant. The slider wings are rigidly connected to each other in the same manner as in the ordinary or non-releasing type of slider. The slider wings are formed to provide enlarged tape slots, too large to enable the slider to laterally retain the fastener elements. In practical form, the wings are made without flanges. A separate movable or retractable member having inturned flanges is disposed upon the slider body, so that when the member is in its down or normal fastener operating position, the inturned flanges are positioned over the enlarged tape slots. These flanges laterally confine or retain the fastener elements, and permit the slider to interlockably engage the fastener elements as the slider is moved to close the fastener. When the flange-providing member is retracted, the tape slots of the body are opened up, and the slider will no longer retain the fastener elements. This permits the fastener elements to be moved laterally outward from between the Wings and through the enlarged tape slot, thereby allowing the stringers and slider to beseparated.

When the user of a garment having such a slide fastener opens up the slider to release a snagged piece of material, the slider is completely separated from both stringers. Complete separation of the slider from both stringers increases the likelihood of losing the slider. A principal object of the present invention is to overcome this difficulty, and to provide a slider which is constructed to release snagged material and yet which is retained upon one stringer of the fastener even after the slider has been opened. It might be anticipated that opening a slider to release one stringerwould release material snagged on that side only of the slider, but contrary to all expectation I have found that the operation will also release material snagged on the opposite side of the slider, that is, material snagged against the connected to each other in fixed relationship by means of a post formed therebetween at one-end of the slider in the same manner that it is in conventional sliders. In accordance with my invention the wings of the slider body' are formed so that one side only will laterally retain a stringer, the other side being formed with an enlarged tape slot too large to retain a stringer. In simplest practical form one side of the slider body is flanged, while the other side is made without flanges. A member having an inturned flange on that side of the slider body having the enlarged tape slot is connected to the slider body and made movable with respect thereto. For normal fastener operation the inturned flange of the member is positioned over the enlarged tape slot and permits the slider to intcrlockably engage the fastener elements.

In the stringer-releasing position of the member, the

enlarged tape slot of the body is opened up to the extent that a stringer may escape from the slider, permitting" the stringers to be stripped apart and to release any material which may have become snagged.

The described construction of the slider which furnishes the snag-releasing function while preventing removal of the slider from the fastener also has been found to be particularly useful for another application in the art of slide fasteners, namely, for fasteners ofthe quick disassembly type. Since the slider itself is constructed to release a stringer while remaining connected to the other stringer, it is now possible to provide a quick disassembly slidefastener of either the fully separable or non-separable type without'necessitating a releasing end stop, dissimilar stringer lengths, or special bottom or. top assemblies, such as have heretofore characterized such quick disassembly slide fasteners. The slider itself constitutes the entire mechanism for realizing the quick assembly action, with the remaining components of the fastener, the top and bottom stops and the stringers being of properly selected though common and inexpensive type. It will be understood that the quick disassembly fastener here described is also a A further object of the invention is to simplify the construction of the flange-providing member and its assembly with the slider body, thereby reducing the cost of manu: facturing the product.

To accomplish the foregoing objects, and other more specific objects which will hereinafter appear, myinvena tion relates to the elements of the slider and their novel relation to one another, and the novel combination of the slider with its stringers as are hereinafter more particularly described in the following specification, and sought to be defined in the claims. The specification isaccompanied by drawings in which: v l

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form of aslider made in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 1A is a perspective view of a preferred-i form-of; flange-providing member;

Patented Mar. 31,1959

Ji Fig'f 2. is auside elevation of a slider in condition for normalfastener. operation;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section taken approximately in the plane of line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

n1Fi ..4 is,;a view similar to Fig.2 showing the relationship of the parts of the slider when itisdesired to release snagged material or to quickly disassemble a fastener of which the slider is a component; i 1 ,Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the flangeproviding member retracted to enable releasing of snagged material, or quick disassembly of a fastener;

- Fig. dis a partial plan view of a slide fastener provided witha slider of thepresent invention, preparatory. toreleasing the snagged material; f

y Fig. .7 is aviewsimilar to Fig. 6 showing,.on an enlarged scale, therelative positions of the components of a slide fastener when extraneous material has become snagged between the fastener elements and the slider of thep 'esent invention, this view omitting the top wing and the flange-providing member of the slider for the purpose ofclarity in illustration;

g Figs. 8 and 9 ,are views similar to Figs. 6 and 7, respectively, illustrating how snagged material maybe released with a slider made in accordance with the present invention; I

Figs. 10 and 11 are views similar to Fig. 3 showing two other embodiments of the invention;

-Fig. 12 is a plan view of a quick disassembly slide fastener of the non-separable type made in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 13 is a partial plan view of the fastener of Fig. 12 with the slider in position preparatory to reassembling the disassembled stringers;

,-,Fig. 14 is an enlarged end view showing the relationship-of the slider and the bottom stop preparatory to reassembling the stringers of the non-separable quick disassembly fastener;

.Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 14 showing the slider in condition for normal fastener operation;

Fig. .16 is a plan view of the fastener after the slider has been moved up from the bottom stop to reassemble the stringers; and I Fig. 17 is a plan view of a quick disassembly slide fastener of the fully separable type.

- In all forms of the invention shown, the slider includes a slider body B and a flange-providing member F mounted upon one of the wings of the slider body. The flangeproviding member is connected to the slider body in a manner to permit the member to be moved or retracted with respect to the slider body and to prevent their complete separation.

The, slider body comprises top and bottom wings w, w permanently connected to each other at their upper ends byaneck or ,post n in fixed, spaced relationship. Preferably, the wings w, w and the post n are integrally formed. However, the wings may be welded or riveted together at their upper or neck end in strong, permanent, fixed, spaced relationship. The slider body may be made in accordance with usual manufacturing practices, such as by stamping, rolling, die-casting, or molding, and may be made of any suitable metal or plastic composition. The slider body B, however, is formed along only one side with means for laterally'retaining a stringer or the fastener elements. Preferably such means constitutes an integrally formed inturned flange on either one of the wings, or on both wings on the same side of the slider body,'thereby providing a tape slot T of a size which does not'permit fastener elements topass therethrough, 'and' preventing the'slider from being removed from the adjacent stringer. '-On the other side of the 'slider'body a tape slot T is provided which is too largeto laterally' retain the fastener elements of the other stringer for interlockable engagement. On this side'of'the slider body, the inturned flanges are omitted from both wings. Thus, the wings-w, w and post It provide the surfac'es of the sliders internal Y shaped channel necessary to confine the fastener elements ,on both stringers to engage or disengage them except for one longitudinalside of the channel which is open and will permit the fastener elements of the adjacent stringer to escape.

As shown in Fig. 3, when the flange-providing member F is in its down or normal fastener operating position, the size of the enlarged'tape slot T is reduced by the positioning of its inturned flange immediately outside the ends of the jaws of the fastener elements so that together with the inturned flange or flanges provided by the slider body on the opposite side the fastener elements on both stringers are laterally retained to permit the slider to interlockably engage'or disengage them as the fastener is closed or opened. In effect, the movable flange provides the surface for completingthe internal Y-shaped channel of the slider. When the member F is retracted the fastener elements of the stringer adjacent the tape slot T are permitted to escape, the slider being retained on the opposite stringer of the fastener, however, by the flange or flangeson the opposite side of the slider body. As will hereinafter appear, this non-removability does not interfere with the sliders ability to release material which may become snagged even on that side of the slider having the fixed inturned flange or flanges. I

As is common in the art, the top wing w is provided with a lug L to support means to permit the user to move the slider along the fastener. In the illustrated slider, this is a finger piece or pull device P of the pendant type, and it will be understood that it may take' various forms. The lug L preferably is formed integrally with the top wing w, but, if desired, a separately formed lug may be secured to the slider body B. The lug L is laterally indented in the usual fashion to provide laterally extending flanges 20 beneath which are received a pa'ir of .trunnions 22 oppositely disposed and extending from the arms 24 formed at one end of the pull P. To accommodate the added thickness of the member F, the lug L is made high enough to accommodate the thickness of both the member F and the thickness of the trunnions The member F is best shown in Fig. 1A. It is preferably formed as a stamping from sheet metal having resilient or spring-like qualities, and is provided with an inturned flange f of suflicient height and length so that when the member F is in its down position or normal fasteneroperating position, the slider is provided with' an inturned flange positioned over the tape slot T to retain the fastener elements for interlockable engagement.

As shown in Figs. 6 to 9, and Figs. 12, 13, 16 and 17, a typical fastener is represented by a pair of stringers S, 8' comprising tapes having spaced interlockable fastener elements e with jaws i securing them to the tapes. In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the slider body B is provided with but one inturned flange 26 formed integrally with the bottom wing w. In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 10, the slider body is also provided with only one inturned flange 28, formed, however, to extend from the top wing w. In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 11, the wings w and w are each formed with a single inturned flange 30 and 32, respectively. In each embodiment of slider shown, the slider body flange or flanges are located adjacent the tape slot T and serve their usual function of retaining the fastener elements of the "adjacent stringer for interlockable engagement, and together with the flange f of the member F located overthe enlarged tape slot T, retain the fastener elements of both stringers for normal fastener operation.

When it is desired to release any material or fabric which may have become snagged betweeen the fastener elements, or the fastener elements and the slider, the member F is moved from the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5. As shown in greater detail in Figs. 5' to 9, with the member F in re-' tracte'd'position, the fastener elementse on the'stringcr S may be moved or peeled out through the enlarged tape slot T. Simply stripping the stringers S and S apart is usually suflicient to release any material which may have become snagged. Where, as shown in Fig. 7, a segment of undergarment material, designated M, becomes snagged between the forward ends of the fastener elements e and the post n of the slider, on that side of the slider which has the fixed flange or flanges, the removal of the stringer S through the tape slot T, as shown in Fig. 8, permits unsnagging of even this troublesome type of snag. As shown in Fig. 9, when the slider no longer confines the fastener elments of both stringers, the slider is retained on the stringer S loosely. The fastener elements on this stringer may freely move across the entire width of the sliders internal channel in the stem or at the mouth end to a position passing through the opposite side of the slider, but are prevented from escaping from the slider in a lateral direction by the presence of the body flange or flanges on one side and the slider post n on the other side. As a result of the free rotation of the slider, the space between the post n of the slider and the forward ends of the elements e may be enlarged, permitting the slider to be moved away from the intervening material M and thereby releasing the same.

The slider and the stringer S may then easily be reassembled with the removed stringer S. This is accomplished by simply moving the slider down to the bottom stop of the fastener (or to that point below the slider where the fastener elements are still in interlocked engagement of the fastener or still partially meshed), adjusting the position of the slider, returning the member F to its down or normal fastener operating position with the flange f positioned immediately outside the ends of the jaws j of the fastener elements e on the stringer S, the position shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3.

Figs. 12 and 16 illustrate the invention as applied to a quick disassembly fastener of the non-separable type. Except for the slider, the fastener is of the common variety, and comprises the usual stringers S, the top stops t, and the bottom stop A which permanently connects the stringers together and limits the movement of the slider. As is common practice in the art, the bottom stop A comprises a pair of substantially parallel plates a, a connected together at one end by a neck portion b. The plates at and a are clamped onto the edges of both stringer tapes and the overall width of the stop is substantially equal to the width of the engaged elements e on both stringers. With an ordinary slider, bottom stop A would be received in the lower or stem portion of the sliders internal Y-shaped channel when the fastener is completely opened or with the slider in the position shown in Fig. 13. The stringers, however, could not be disassembled at the top of the fastener as desired in a quick disassembly fastener. By providing the fastener with a slider of the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5, or Fig. 10, or Fig. 11, this ordinary fastener is converted to one which may be quickly disassembled, with the added advantage that it may be quickly disassembled anywhere along the length of the fastener, instead of at the top end only.

As shown in Fig. 12, a fastener including a slider made in accordance with the present invention may be quickly disassembled by retracting the member F, whereupon the stringer S may be peeled out of the slider by the application of a cross-pull force to the fastener at or above the slider. The stringers may be stripped apart down to the bottom stop A, the bottom stop being received between the wings w, w of the slider in the stem portion of the internal channel, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14. When the member F is moved from the open position shown in Fig. 14 to normal fastener operating position shown in Fig. 15, the slider may be moved up to close the fastener, as shown in Fig. 16.

It will be readily apparent that a fastener of the fully separable type, as shown in Fig. 17, and which includes a fully separable bottom assembly, designated C, may be quickly disassembled anywhere along the length of the fastener by means of the slider of the present invention, without requiring the use of a releasing end stop, a special top stop, or dissimilar lengths of stringers, such as have heretofore been used for quick disassembly slide fasteners.

Although no bottom stop has been shown in Figs. 1 through 10 of the drawing, it may be mentioned here that the bottom stop may be either one of the types shown in Figs. 12 and 17. If the slide fastener which is to be made snag-releasing is of the non-separable type, the bottom stop may be like that shown in Fig. 12. It may be any bottom stop of the now conventional type in which the bottom stop is dimensioned small enough to be received Within the lower end of the slider. If the fastener which is to be made snag releasing is used on a garment or other device which opens fully, the bottom stop used will be one of the known fully-separable bottom stops, for example, one in which one stringer carries a socket, such as that shown at 60 in Fig. 17, while the other stringer carries a pin, such as that shown at 62,

the said pin being dimensioned to be received at its lower end in the socket 60. a

In connection with the improved construction of the flange-providing member F and its relationship with the slider body B and the pull device P, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the member F is preferably made to fit like a cap over the slider wing w. As shown in Fig. 1A,.the mem. ber F is formed to a contour substantially the same as the shape in plan view of a slider wing. It is preferably made of spring metal, for example, Phosphor bronze, and

is provided with a window 34 through which the lug L extends.

As shown in Figs. 1A to 5, the lower longitudinal side edges of the member F are provided with bent-down portions 36, 36' each having a height substantially equal to the thickness of the wing w plus the desired height of the flange f. The member F preferably is made with the two bent-down portions 36, 36 (although only one flange is needed) in order to make the member symmetrical in transverse cross-section and to balance the releasable locking means which is about to be described. The second bent-down portion 36' also provides a flange portion 1" which aids in laterally retaining the fastener elements when the member F is in normal fastener operating position. The distance between the bent-down portions 36, 36' is substantially equal to the width of the adjoining wing w except that the extremities, the flanges f and f are indented, thereby providing the sloping shoulders 38 and 38', as best shown in Figs. 1A, 3 and 5. The distance between the inside surfaces of the flanges f and f is made to equal the desired width of the slider channel.

As shown in Fig. 3, the sloping shoulders 38, 38' releasably hook under the edges of the wing w. The top longitudinal edges of the wing w are formed with bevels 40, 40' to facilitate snapping the member F over the wing and releasably lock the member in down posi-' tion. These bevels need extend for only the length of the stem portion of the wing w, as is best shown in Fig. 4. Similarly the indentation of the sides 36, 36' of the member F need extend for only the stem portion of the slider and may terminate where the slider diverges, as indicated at 64, 64' in Fig. 1A and Fig. 4. Thus the detent action Which locks the member F in operative position takes place at the stem portion of the slider. The flanges extend further in diverging relation to the point 43.

The upper portion of the member F, designated 42, which is located above the lug of the slider, and at the neck end of the slider, is bent upwardly at an angle of approximately thirty (30) degrees, and is made so that its extremity 44 will extend no higher than, and preferably below, the top of the lug L when the member F is in the .normal fastener operating position shownvin Fig.' 2. f Tht'ls, a pressing iron will engage the lug before it, will engage the upturned end of the member F.

The member'F is assembled with the slider body B by" 'simply placing it on top of the wing w with the'lug L-"extending through the window 34. The pull device P is then attached to the lug by bringing the arms 24 into parallelism, whereupon the trunnions 22 will bear on top of the member F and prevent its separation from the slider body.

,With the components of the slider assembled as described, and with the snap-lock means comprising the shoulders 38, 38' hooked beneath the bottom edges of the wing w, as' shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the member F isjrnoved 'to snag-releasing or stringer-releasing'position by swinging the pull P around its pivotal connection to the lug L until it bears against the edge 44 of the upv'vardly inclined portion 42. By pressing downwardly. upon the pull device in the direction of the arrow, as, indicated in Fig. 4, the resilient connection between the member F and the wing w at the other end of the slider is broken, thereby lifting the bent-down portions 36, 3'6" a'bove'the tape slots T and T. From another viewpoint it may be said that the bent-down portions 36 and 36' extend along the slider a distance such as to clear the tape slot when raised, the termination being indicated at 43 in Figs. 2 and 4.

' The'upwardly inclined portion 42 is preferably itself provided with a downturned edge or peripheral wall.4 5, This has the advantage of stiffening the portion 42, and of'providing a smooth rounded finish for the top of the slider assembly. It will be noted that the bottom edge, designated 46, of the upwardly inclined peripheralwall 45, is angularly related to the slider body, and that it'is narrow, so that when the member F is tilted to the open position (Fig. 4), no part thereof obstructs the open time slot T. Furthermore, it will-be noted that the top edge 44 of the member F is so located that when the pull device P engages it, the position of the pull device is beyond the range it normally assumes to open and close: the fastener. In normal operation of a slide fastener; the user does not turn the pull upwardly and around' further then the dotted line indicated in Fig. 2 at'xx.'

Where, as shown in Figs. and 11, the slider body; Bis provided with an inturned flange extendingfrom the body wing w, the balance or symmetry of the snap lock forces may be maintained by providing the member F 'with a bent-down portion 48 which is indented to provide a projection 50 adapted to be received within a. pocket 52 in the wing w. In this manner, the flange providing member F is prevented from canting to one' side,"nd the movable flange f is maintained in desired position for normal fastener opening or closing.

It will be apparent that the structure of the flange-providing member, and its relationship to the slider body andipull device as shown in Figs. 15, whereby the member'may be' simply and effectively releasably locked in position, is also suitable for the removable slider dis closed in the aforesaid pending application of Albert Bashover'. i

The slider of the present invention may be of the none-,1 locking type or the locking type. As shown, for example,

inFig. 12, this slider may be made of the pin-lock variety, in which case it is only necessary to providea windowv 54, in the member F as well as the underlying wing of the slider body, through which a pin 56 on the pull device; P may pass to engage fastener elements in. theinter nal channel ofthe slider. I .7

"It will be apparent that while I have shown and described my invention in several preferred forms,, hanges may be made in the structures shownwithout departing from the spirit of the invention as sought to be defined'in the following claims.

Iclaim':

*l'l Aislider for slidefasteners'ofi'the s rising r 75 bodyhaving'aninturned flange,s'aid' Li J.

8 pair of stringers, each of said stringers being formed of tape having spaced, interlockableffastener elements secured thereto, said slider comprising a body having a pair of spaced wings of substantially the same dimen- 5 sions connected to each other at one end by a post in fixed relationship, said wings being so formed that only one side, of the body will laterally retain a stringer, both wings being flangeless at the other side of the body to provide an enlarged tape slot which is too large to later- 10, ally retain a stringer, and a member additional to the slider body having an inturned flange on that side of the slider body having the enlarged tape slot, said member being movable in a direction transverse to the flat faces of the tapes and wings from a stringer-retaining to a stringer-releasing position, said member in its stringerretaining position acting to position the inturned flange over. the enlarged tape slot and permitting the slider to interlockably engage the fastener elements, and in its stringer-releasing position opening up said enlarged't'ape 20. slot to the extent that a stringer may escape from the .Slider. 2. A slider for slide fasteners of the type comprising a pair of stringers, each ofsaid stringers being formedof' tape having spaced, interlockable fastener elements "se-' 25. cured thereto, said slider comprising a body having a pair of spaced wings of substantially the same dimensions connected to each other at one end by a post in fixed relationship, said wings onone side of the body both being flangeless and providing'an enlarged tape slot which is too large to laterally retain a stringer, an inturned flange provided on at least one of the wings on the opposite side of said body to laterally retain a stringer, and a mem-" ber additional to the slider body having an inturned flange on that side of the slider body having the enlarged tape slot, said member being movable in a direction transverse to the flat faces of the tapes and wings from a stringerretaining to a stringer-releasing position, said member in its stringer-retaining position acting to position the in-' turned flange over the enlarged tape slot and permitting the slider to interlockably engage the fastener elements, and in its stringer-releasing position acting to open'up said enlarged tape slot to the extent that the stringer may escape from the slider.

3. A slider for slide fasteners of the type comprising a pairof stringers, each of said stringers being formed of tap e'having spaced, interlockable fastener elements Sec'ur'ed thereto, said slider comprising a body having spaced top and bottom wings of substantially the same dimensions connected to each other at one end by a post in fixed relationship, said wings on one'side of the body both being flangeless and providing an enlarged tape slot which is too large to laterally retain a stringer, an in turned flange provided on the bottom wing'on the oppo sitef'side of said body to laterally retain a stringer, and a 5 5 member additional to the slider body having a pair of inturned flanges, said member being movable in a direc tion'" transverse to the fiat faces of thetapes and wings from a stringerretaining to a stringer-releasing position, said member in its stringer-retaining position acting to po-i H 60 sition an inturned flange over the enlarged tape slot and permitting the slider tointerlockably engage the fastener elements, and in its stringer-releasing position actingto open up said enlarged tape slot to the extent that the stringer may escape from the slider. v V 4. A slider for slide fasteners of the type comprising a pair of stringers, each of said stringers being formed of tape having spaced, interlockable fastener elements secured thereto, said slider comprising a body having pair of "spaced wings of substantially thesame dimensions I connected to each other at oneend by a post in fixed re}; j lationship, both of said wings being flangeless at one'side I of said body so that at least one side of the body is pr'o vided with an enlarged tape slot which is too large to lat erally retain a stringer, a member additional to'the slider ember being'mpva gara es ble ina direction transverse to the flat faces of the tapes and wings from a stringer-retaining to a stringer-releasing position, said member i1 its stringer-retaining position acting to position the inturned flange over the enlarged tape slot and permitting the slider to interlockably engage the fastener elements, and in its stringer-releasing position opening up said enlarged tape slot to the extent that a stringer may escape from the slider, and snap-lock means comprising resilient portions of said member engaging opposite side edges of an adjacent wing for releasably retaining said member in stringer-retaining position.

5. A slider for slide fasteners of the type comprising a pair of stringers, each of said stringers being formed of tape having spaced, interlockable fastener elements secured thereto, said slider comprising a body having a pair of spaced wings of substantially the same dimensions connected to each other at one end by a post in fixed relationship, both of said wings being flangeless at one side of said body so that at least one side of the body is provided with an enlarged tape slot which is too large to laterally retain a stringer, a member additionalto the slider body having an inturned flange, said-member being movable from a stringer-retaining to a stringerreleasing position, said member having an upwardly inclined portion at the post end of the slider, and snaplock means for releasably retaining said member in stringer-retaining position, in which position the size of the enlarged tape slot is reduced by the positioning of the inturned flange over said slot to permit the slider to interlockably engage the fastener elements, said member being movable to stringer-releasing position to open up said tape slot to the extent that a stringer may escape from the slider by pressing against said inclined portion to overcome the retaining force of said snap-lock means.

6. A slider for slide fasteners of the type comprising a pair of stringers, each of said stringers being formed of tape having spaced, interlockable fastener elements secured thereto, said slider comprising a body having a pair of spaced wings connected to each other at one end by a post in fixed relationship, a lug on one of said wings, said wings being so formed that at least one side of the body is provided with an enlarged tape slot which is too large to laterally retain a stringer, a member having an inturned flange, said member being movable from a stringer-retaining to a stringer-releasing position, said member having an upwardly inclined portion starting at the lug and going toward the post end of the slider, a pull device secured to said lug, said pull device securing said member to said body, and snap-lock means for releasably retaining said member in stringer-retaining position, in which position the size of the enlarged tape slot is reduced by the positioning of the inturned flange over said slot to permit the slider to interlockably engage the fastener elements, said member being movable to stringerreleasing position to open up said tape slot to the extent that a stringer may escape from the slider by pressing said pull device against said inclined portion to overcome the retaining force of said snap-lock means.

7. A slider for slide fasteners of the type comprising a pair of stringers, each of said stringers being formed of tape having spaced, interlockable fastener elements secured thereto, said slider comprising a body having a pair of spaced wings of substantially the same dimensions connected to each other at one end by a post in fixed relationship, said wings being so formed that at least one side of the body is, provided with an enlarged tape slot which is too large to laterally retain a stringer, a member having an inturned flange, said member being movable from a stringer-retaining to a stringer-releasing position, said member having an upwardly inclined portion at the post end of the slider, a pull device secured to said body, said pull device securing said member to said body, and snap-lock means for releasably retaining said member in stringer-retaining position, in which position the size of the enlarged tape slot is reduced by the positioning of the inturned flange over said slot to permit the slider to interlockably engage the fastener elements, said snap-lock means comprising resilient portions of said member engaging opposite side edges of an adjacent Wing, said member being movale to slider-releasing position to open up the tape slot to the extent that a stringer may escape from the slider by pressing said pull device against said inclined portion to overcome the retaining force of said snap-lock means.

8. A slider for slide fasteners of the type comprising a pair of stringers, each of said stringers being formed of tape having spaced, interlockable fastener elements secured thereto, said slider comprising a body having a pair of spaced wings connected to each other at one end by a post in fixed relationship, a lug on one of said wings, said wings being so formed that at least one side of the body is provided with an enlarged tape slot which is too large to laterally retain a stringer, a member having an inturned flange, said member being movable from a stringer-retaining to a stringer-releasing position, said member having an upwardly inclined portion starting at the lug and going toward the post end of the slider, a window in said member, said lug extending through said window, a pull device secured to said lug and securing said member to said body, and snap-lock means for releasably retaining said member in stringer-retaining position, in which position the size of the enlarged tape slot is reduced by the positioning of the inturned flange over said slot to permit the slider to interlockably engage the fastener elements, saidsnap-lock means comprising resilient portions of said member engaging opposite side edges of an adjacent wing of said body, said member being movable to slider-releasing position to open up the tape slot to the extent that a stringer may escape from the slider by pressing said pull device against said inclined portion to overcome the retaining force of said snap-lock means.

9. A slider for slide fasteners of the type comprising a pair of stringers, each of said stringers being formed of tape having spaced, interlockable fastener elements secured thereto, said slider comprising a body having a pair of spaced wings of substantially the same dimensions connected to each other at one end by a post in fixed relationship, said wings being so formed that only one side of the body will laterally retain a stringer, both wings being flangeless at the other side of the body to provide an enlarged tape slot which is too large to laterally retain a stringer, a member additional to the slider body having an inturned flange on that side of the slider body having the enlarged tape slot, said member being movable in a direction transverse to the fiat faces of the tapes and wings from a stringer-retaining to a stringer-releasing position, said member in its stringerretaining position acting to position the inturned flange over the enlarged tape slot and permitting the slider to interlockably engage the fastener elements, and in its stringer-releasing position opening up said enlarged tape slot to the extent that a stringer may escape from the slider, and snap-lock means comprising resilient portions of said member engaging opposite side edges of an adjacent wing for releasably retaining said member in stringer-retaining position.

10. A slider for slide fasteners of the type comprising a pair of stringers, each of said stringers being formed of tape having spaced, interlockable fastener elements secured thereto, said slider comprising a body having a pair of spaced wings connected to each other at one end by a post in fixed relationship, the space between said wings on one side of the body providing an enlarged tape slot which is too large to laterally retain a stringer, an in turned flange provided on at least one of the wings on the opposite side of said body to laterally retain a stringer, a member having an inturned flange on that side of the slider body having the enlarged tape slot,

said member being movable from a stringer-retaining to a stringer-releasing position, said member having an upwardly inclined portion starting at the middle region of the slider and going toward the post end of the slider, and snap-lock means for releasably retaining said member in stringer-retaining position, in which position the size of the enlarged tape slot is reduced by the positioning of the inturned flange over said slot to permit the slider to interlockably engage the fastener elements, said member being movable to stringer-releasing position to open up said tape slot to the extent that a stringer may escape from the slider by pressing against said inclined portion to overcome the retaining force of said snaplock means.

l1. A slider for slide fasteners of the type comprising a pair of stringers, each of said stringers being formed of tape having spaced, interlockable fastener elements secured thereto, said slider comprising a body having a pair of spaced wings of substantially the same dimensions connected to each other at one end by a post in fixed relationship, the space between said wings on one side of the body providing an enlarged tape slot which is too large to laterally retain a stringer, an inturned flange provided on at least one of the wings on the opposite side of said body to laterally retain a stringer, a member having an inturned flange on that side of the slider body having the enlarged tape slot, said member being movable from a stringer-retaining to a stringerreleasing position, said member having an upwardly inclined portion at the post end of the slider, a pulldevice secured to said body, said pull device securing said member to said body, and snap-lock means for releasably retaining said member in stringer-retaining position, in which position the size of the enlarged tape slot is reduced by the positioning of the inturned flange over said slot to permit the slider to interlockably engage the fastener elements, said member being movable to stringer-releasing position to open up said tape slot to the extent that a stringer may escape from the slider by pressing said pull device against said inclined portion to overcome the retaining force of said snap-lock means.

12. A slider for slide fasteners of the type comprising a pair of stringers, each of said stringers being formed of tape having spaced, interlockable fastener elements secured thereto, said slider comprising a body having a pair of spaced wings connected to each other at one end by a post in fixed relationship, a lug on one of said wings, the space between said wings on one side of the body providing an enlarged tape slot which is too large to laterally retain a stringer, an inturned flange provided on at least one of the wings on the opposite side of said body to laterally retain a stringer, and a member having an inturned flange on that side of the slider body having the enlarged tape slot, said member being movable from a stringer-retaining to a stringer-releasing position, said member having. an upwardly inclined portion starting at the lug and going toward the post end of the slider, a pull device secured to said lug, said pull device securing said member to said body, and snaplock means for releas'ably retaining said member in stringer-retaining position in which position the sizeofthe enlarged tape slot is reduced by the positioning of the inturned flange over said slot to permit the slider to interlockably engage the fastener elements, said snaplock means comprising resilient portions of said member engaging opposite side edges of an adjacent wing, said member being movable to slider-releasing position to open up the tape slot to the extent that a stringer may escape from the slider by pressing-said pull device against said. inclined portion to overcome the retaining. force of said snap-lock means. I 1

13. A snag-releasing, non-removable slider for slide' fasteners of the type comprising a pair of stringers, each of said stringers being formed of tape having spaced,

interlockable fastener elements secured theretofsaidislider comprising 'a bodyhaving a pair of spaced wings of sub? stantially the same dimensions connecte'd'to eachsother atone end by a post in fixed relationship, said; wings and post providing the surfaces of thelinternal Y.-shaped channel required to confine the fastener elementson both stringers tozengage or disengage them except for one longitudinal side of the channel which is open laterally for its full width and will vpermit the fastener elements of one stringer to escape, and a member additional to the slider body having an inturned flange. providinga' surface for completing the internal Y-shaped channel, saidmember being movable in a direction transverse to the flat faces of the tapes and wings from a positionito confine the fastenervelements on both stringers for interlockable engagement 'to a position where the fastener elements of one stringer may escape, said slider then being very loosely retained on the other stringer alone whereby any'material which may have become snagged between the slider and the fastener elements of either stringer may be released.

14. A slider for a quick disassembly slide fastener comprising a pair of stringers, each of said stringers being formed of tape having spaced, interlockable fastener ele'' ments secured thereto, said slider being so constructed that it will in itself, without the provision of a releas-' ing end stop or dissimilar lengths of stringers or special top'or bottom-stops, release one of the stringers and be retained on the other stringer when it is desired to quickly disassemble the fastener, said slider comprising a body having a pair of spaced wings of substantially the same dimensions connected to each other at one end by a post in fixed relationship, said wings being so formed that only one side of the body will laterally retain a stringer, both wings being flangeless at the other side of the body to providean enlarged tape slot which is too large to laterally retain a stringer, and a member additional to the slider body having an inturned flange on that side of the slider body having the enlarged tape slot, said member being movable in a direction transverse to the flat faces of the tapes and Wings from a stringerretaining to a stringer-releasing position, said member in.

its stringer-retaining position acting to position the inturned flange over the enlarged tape slot and permitting the slider to interlockably engage the fastener elements,

and in its stringer-releasing position opening up said enlarged tape slot to the extent that the adjacent stringer may escape, said slider being retained by the other stringer.

15; 'A slider for a quick disassembly slide fastener.

comprising a pair of stringers, each of said stringers being formed of tape having spaced, interlockable fastener elements secured thereto, said slider being so con structed that it will in itself, without the provision of a releasing end stop or dissimilar lengths of stringers or special top or bottom stops, release one of the stringers and be retained .on the other stringer When it is desired to quickly disassemble thefastener, said slidercomprising a body having a'pair of spaced wings of substantially the same dimensions connected to each other at one end by a post in fixed relationship, saidwingson one side of the body both being flangeless and provid ing an enlarged tape slot which is too large to laterally retain a stringer, an inturned flange provided on at least one of-th'e wings on the opposite side of said bodyto, laterally retain a stringenand a member additional toe the slider body having an inturned flange on that side of the slider body having the enlarged tape slot, said,

member beingmovable in a direction transverse to the flat faces of the tapes and Wings from a stringer-retaining to the stringer-releasing position, said member in its stringer-retaining position acting to position the in-- turned flange over the enlarged tape slot and permitting the slider ,to interlockably engage the fastener elements,

and in its, stringer-releasing position opening up said enlarged tape slot to the extent that the adjacent stringer may escape, said slider being retained by the other stringer.

16. A slider for a quick disassembly slide fastener of the non-separable type comprising a pair of stringers, each of said stringers being formed of tape having spaced, interlockable fastener elements secured thereto, a nonseparable bottom stop of the ordinary type permanently securing the stringers together, said slider being so constructed that it will in itself, without the provision of a releasing end stop or dissimilar lengths of stringers or special top stops, release one of the stringers and be retained on the other stringer when it is desired to quickly disassemble the fastener, said slider comprising a body having a pair of spaced wings of substantially the same dimensions connected to each other at one end by a post in fixed relationship, said wings being so formed that only one side of the body will laterally retain a stringer, both wings being flangeless at the other side of the body to provide an enlarged tape slot which is too large to laterally retain a stringer, and a member having an inturned flange on that side of the slider body having the enlarged tape slot, said member being movable in a direction transverse to the flat faces of the tapes and wings from a stringer-retaining to a stringerreleasing position, said member in its stringer-retaining position acting to position the inturned flange over the enlarged tape slot and permitting the slider to interlockably engage the fastener elements, and in its stringerreleasing position opening up said tape slot to release the adjacent stringer, said slider being retained by the other stringer whereupon by returning said slider to said bottom stop and moving said member to stringer-retaining position both stringers may be reassembled by the slider.

17. A slider for a quick disassembly slide fastener of the non-separable type comprising a pair of stringers, each of said stringers being formed of tape having spaced, interlockable fastener elements secured thereto, a slider having an internal Y-shaped channel, and a non-separable bottom stop of the ordinary type permanently securing the stringers together, said stop being dimensioned to be 14 received within the stem portion of the sliders internal Y-shaped channel, said slider comprising a body having a pair of spaced wings of substantially the same dimensions connected to each other at one end by a post in fixed relationship, said Wings on one side of the body both being flangeless and providing an enlarged tape slot which is too large to laterally retain a stringer, an inturned flange provided on at least one of the wings on the opposite side of the body to laterally retain a stringer, and a member additional to the slider body having an inturned flange on that side of the slider body having the enlarged tape slot, said member being movable in a direction transverse to the flat faces of the tapes and Wings from a stringer-retaining to a stringerreleasing position, said member in its stringer-retaining position acting to position the inturned flange over the enlarged tape slot and permitting the slider to interlockably engage the fastener elements, and in its stringerreleasing position opening up said tape slot to release the adjacent stringer, said slider being retained by the other stringer, whereupon by returning said slider to and over said bottom stop and moving said member to stringerretaining position both stringers may be reassembled by the slider.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 557,208 Judson Mar. 31, 1896 1,585,645 Binns May 25, 1926 1,609,486 Marinsky Dec. 7, 1926 2,000,415 Pannutti May 7, 1935 2,061,682 Sundback Nov. 24, 1936 2,366,797 Legat Jan. 9, 1945 2,433,801 Weber Dec. 30, 1947 2,526,653 Gerstman Oct. 24, 1950 2,575,501 Ulrich Nov. 20, 1951 2,626,440 Carlile Jan. 27, 1953 2,677,162 Foltis May 4, 1954 2,681,490 Okolowicz June 22, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 493,344 Great Britain Oct. 6, 1938 

